July 2007
1 post
< mdxi> One afternoon we came across two huge pools and as it was getting late in the day, we knew that the swimming lamp would be lit. Our new forward observer, Sam Ault, was an avid swimmer. He had only been with us a little while after taking over for Denny, the duck walker. As soon as we found a night location, Sam dropped his gear and made for the pool.
< mdxi> He was dressed in traditional grunt swimwear; bare ass naked, olive drab towel draped around the neck, steel pot on head, unlaced jungle boots on feet, blown up air mattress under left arm and M-15 hanging from shoulder strap over right arm. Sam hauled ass down the trail going for firsties in the pool.
< mdxi> Running along the trail, bare assed, and almost to the pools, Sam was shocked to see two NVA soldiers in full combat gear step out onto the path in front of him. I suppose they were a little shocked too. You dont see a naked GI carrying an air mattress in the jungle every day. Sam stopped dead still. The gooks stood in front of him frozen and bewildered.
< mdxi> Sam recovered his senses first and shot them dead. Then he went swimming. Up until that time, nobody knew anything about Sam and we all thought he was a bit of a geek, but from then on, he was a cult hero.